Esperanza Spalding & Algebra Blessett - Black Gold Official Video

Some need to learn to "Do what's right"

@USAirways should be ashamed of it’s “refund policy”

US Airways just posted a $95 million third quarter profit yet refuses to offer a $4,200 refund to my friend Lynn McKain (US-11MCKAIN-L86L06 - T1W) despite proof from her oncologist that her now incurable breast cancer has returned. As a consumer I find the airlines behavior insensitive, & disrespectful. So much for customers first and their alleged vow “The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a top priority for our airline.”

"5 From 30"

A few months ago I was talking to my friend D and he asked how old I was at that moment. At the time I was 24, months away from today, the day when I turn 25. He said oh you're "5 from 30." Instantly I felt old and I panicked. I think inside myself I thought will I hit my target {whatever it is}, are things going as planned, am I on the right time track?

The target, the plan, the time track, where exactly I'm headed I was unsure of, and it's not much clearer today. For the last ten months I've been employed by the top television news division in the United States, and arguably in the world. For anyone in my chosen career field it is the ultimate position to be in. I regularly talk with network producers, correspondents, and executives reporting some of the most important stories of today. Many days I'm fortunate enough to assist in the news gathering for pretty important broadcasts. I have had a front row seat to history.

In about a months time I'm giving it up though. I'm walking away from my job in order to get a master's degree I'm still figuring out how to afford. In my heart against all logic, defying rhyme and reason, I felt the risk was one worth taking. Just last weekend I stood in my New York city apartment and thought to myself, what in the hell have I done? Have I sabotaged my career, ruined potential professional relationships? Have I ended a great ending by hard stopping a great beginning?

Then today I read this , which reinforced so many things I've read recently words of wisdom from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to veteran journalist Belva Davis. Patrick's book "A Reason to Believe" reminded me I needed but one reason to believe. Davis' book "Never In My Wildest Dreams" summed up the past 10 months, except I did dream it. Three years ago on a trip to NYC I walked over to the building where I now work, looked up and said I'm going to work there one day, and it came to pass. 10 months ago I moved to NYC with an air mattress, a duffel bag, and a back pack and I've survived.

So I will continue to believe as one anchorwoman told me on one of my first days, "I will be great."

I will get back to this place, or I will get to a place that is all the better or right for me.

Besides I'm just "5 from 30" with hopefully a lot more time to go.

What Happens Next?

I was watching the end of the women's basketball game when my high school friend Brittany beasted it. I was looking up her school Notre Dame and came across a site which celebrates African-Americans who attended the school.

I then came across the commencement speech by Katie Washington who last spring was celebrated for being the first African-American valedictorian in her school's history.

Part of her speech resonated with me as I continue to confront the realities of being a grown up.

She asked in part, "What happens after the applause stops? The spotlight fades, the crowd clears, and there are moments of complete silence. While applause is accompanied by feelings of safety and security, this silence can bring vulnerability and uneasiness."

I must now wonder not just what happens but what I will do. Throughout my life and career my accomplishments have often been celebrated and I've labored on, but sometimes there are let downs as you climb and climb and climb. Out of the silence hopefully will be born a plan, and more dreams. Yes, hopefully I will continue to dream.

So I've Decided

So it seems that I have decided to start listening to my own advice.
You see for some reason people like asking me for advice. In all actuality I think it's a lot easier to accept common sense if you think it's someone else's wisdom.
I have a few mentees who will call, text, and e-mail me for career advice. Friends who will use me to talk out relationship drama. Friends who will make me proofread their stuff (and though I'm a journalist I feel like an average writer). Friends who will ask me how to plot, plan, and succeed at achieving their goals.

Still part of me feels lost.

I don't know if it's because I'm coming up on 25, or because I'm discovering that as chill as I am I'm a fairly impatient person.

So I've decided since I seem to give awesome advice to others, not tooting my own horn, they keep coming back. Maybe I need to take my own advice.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Before You Say No

On Friday as I was headed to work even though it was my day off I was stopped by a woman.

"Can you help me cross the street?" she asked confusing me.

I was all ready to say no to this woman if she was asking for money or even a little bit of my time.Neither of which I jave to just give away. But then I was stopped dead in my tracks by a confusing request. What? You want me to help you across the street I thought to myself.

As I walked over to the woman and say no path was cleared from the sidewalk to the street. I told her we'd have to walk through the mess. She said fine just as long as she could hold onto me. As she held onto my arm she explained to me that she just didn't want to fall as she had done the day before.

Once safely on the other side of the street, the woman thanked me. She also told me, "God's going to bless you."

I walked away hoping that what the woman had said would turn out to be true.

You know there are times when people speak God's blessings upon you as a default expression of sorts, which makes it less real, less genuine and therefore less apt to happen.

So as I walked away I thought to myself well C. Nel think again before you say no, it might inhibit your blessings.